SUP-449: Politics and Education Policy in the U.S.

Schedule

Day

Time

Location

First Day

9/3

Meet Day

M/W

8:00 AM -
10:00 AM

GSE LSNHL G08

Review

Description

Education is
inherently political. The experience of schooling contributes to
the socialization of citizens, and curricular choices inevitably
legitimate some forms of knowledge while excluding others.
Educational attainment is a key determinant of the economic success
of individuals and groups. The education sector is among the
largest employers in the national economy, and public schools
typically command a sizable share of state and local government
budgets. It is no surprise, then, that education policy debates are
so often contentious. This course examines the politics of
education in the United States. It considers the key institutions
(e.g., school boards, state governments, Congress, executive branch
agencies, and courts) and actors (e.g. elected officials, parents,
teachers unions, and the general public) shaping the American K-12
education system in order to understand recent reform efforts and
their consequences for students. We will study past conflicts over
education governance, ongoing policy debates, and the forces
shaping current reform efforts. Throughout the course we will draw
on concepts from political science to understand the development of
the American education system while using education policy to learn
about American politics and the nature of political action more
generally.